Page 79 of His Captive

One with her.

Now Lysetta is just another part of my past, a whole fresh nightmare for me to endure.

And that is how I drift off to sleep, with memories of her projecting themselves on the back of my eyelids, and my head asking itself the same question over and over... How did I let it happen, after I vowed never to love again?

I wake up with someone slamming my head against the mattress. When I open my eyes, I realize I’m alone, and that my head isn’t actually moving. There are a few precious moments before my mind catches up, where I only feel the same misery I had before she came.

But, then I smell her on the pillow. And recall all the pain that alcohol and sleep have drowned out. Depression stirs back to life and swirls in my empty stomach. I force myself out of her bed, stumbling down the stairs into the hall.

Buddy struts out of the kitchen, whistling the same way he does every morning, stopping to a halt when he sees me.

“Whoa…you look like shit,” he says.

“Not now, Buddy.” I barge past him and open the door to my office. I slump in my chair and massage the bridge of my nose with my thumb and middle finger. I don’t have to focus on what to do next, because there is no next move. I’m powerless. I offered her freedom, and she took it.

My eyes get drawn to the two checks still sat on my desk, I hadn’t noticed them last night, and seeing them makes me even angrier. I should have known that she wouldn’t take the money. Any other time I would have respected her for it, but she’s been foolish in her stubbornness. Not taking my offer for help means she’ll still be a target for Sorrento.

I take the checks and scrunch them into balls, throwing them into the small bin under my desk. Then I scan the wall to the empty space that started this whole thing off...

Except the space isn’t empty. The butterfly is there, free from its mount and frame. It’s been returned.

Its presence isn’t the cause of fury and fear sharing a path as they trickle down my spine. It’s the dagger that’s pinning the delicate creature right through the middle into the wall. And the small note behind it, written in scruffy handwriting that I recognize.

Some things can’t be owned.

My heartbeat accelerates so fast that my head spins, and I feel my veins pump fuller.

I bellow Buddy’s name, as the room starts to spin around me. I’m so fucking furious I swear I could find the strength to tear the whole house down if I had time. Buddy pushes the door open.

“Sup, boss man?” he asks, then looks instantly worried when he sees the look on my face.

“When did you last see Lysa?” I ask.

“Last night. She stayed up waiting for you, but you were out so late. She went to bed to wait, so I went down to the festival.”

“Fuck.” I slam my fist into the wall. Shocking Buddy enough to take a step back.

“Fuck... NO.” I shake my head and grip at my hair in frustration. This can’t be happening.

“What's the matter?” Buddy asks. Oblivious to the torment taking root in my head.

“Lysa’s gone,” I tell him. “He’s fucking got her.” I tip my head to the wall behind him so he can see for himself, and when he turns and sees the butterfly there, he gasps.

“What are we gonna do?” He turns back to me, worry settling in his eyes, his shoulders rising and falling to the rhythm of panic.

“I’m gonna go get her back, and I’m gonna finish this shit once and for all,” I tell him. Thundering out to the hall.

“I’m coming too.” He follows me.

“No, you call Tristan and Joel and you tell them to get to Sorrento’s place.”

“I’m coming too, Ethan,” he argues back.

“No, you’re not. You’re staying here and you’re waiting for me to call. You hear me, Buddy? You wait here!” I order, leaving him on the doorstep, and jumping into my car.

I grip the steering wheel hard in my fist as I skid away from the drive and set off toward Cooper’s Ridge.

Lysetta wasn’t leaving me.

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